European Cross-Border Shopping Shake-Up Aimed at Boosting EU Sales

Posted on: Thursday, 9 October 2008, 18:00 CDT Consumers shopping across European borders are to get sweeping new rights and guarantees under plans unveiled in Brussels yesterday. The European Commission is asking EU governments to introduce legislation to boost confidence in buying goods and services in other member states, either when travelling abroad or online. EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said she is acting because cross border shopping is a vast potential market which is unfulfilled because of public suspicions about the risks. Her proposals, approved by the Commission and now to be submitted to EU government ministers, will guarantee clear price information and extra charges, offer protection against late delivery or non- delivery, as well as clarifying rights to refunds, repairs and cooling-off... [read full story]